B7-H5, A Costimulatory Polypeptide

ABSTRACT

B7-H5 costimulatory polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, and methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids to enhance a T cell response are provided herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 15/845,158, filed Dec. 18, 2017, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 14/645,070, filed Mar. 11, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,884,903), which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 13/852,888, filed Mar. 28, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,012,409), which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 13/036,893, filed Feb. 28, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,426,563), which is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/571,195, filed Jan. 24, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,919,585), which is National Stage under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application PCT/US2005/022321, filed Jun. 24, 2005, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/582,491, filed on Jun. 24, 2004. The contents of the prior application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Activated T lymphocytes play critical roles in host defense against viral infection and cancer and are involved in the progression of autoimmune diseases. Two distinct signals are typically required for optimal activation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes. The first signal is provided by the interactions of the complex of antigenic peptide and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with the T cell receptor (TCR). The second signal is delivered to T cells by costimulatory molecules expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Studies have demonstrated that costimulatory interactions stimulate T cell growth, up-regulate cytokine production, and promote T cell differentiation. Furthermore, ligation of costimulatory molecules provides a survival signal essential for T cells to prevent apoptosis. In addition, costimulatory signals appear to be critical for the induction and maintenance of T cell anergy. More importantly, there is clear interest in therapeutic manipulation of costimulatory pathways because the control of costimulatory signals can provide a means either to enhance or to inhibit immune responses.

SUMMARY

The invention is based, in part, on the cloning of human and mouse cDNA molecules encoding novel homologous molecules that co-stimulate the T cell responses of both species and on the functional characterization of the polypeptides that the cDNA molecules encode. The human polypeptide is designated hB7-H5 and the mouse polypeptide mB7-H5. Text that refers to B7-H5 without specifying human versus mouse is pertinent to both forms of B7-H5. The invention features DNA molecules encoding the hB7-H5, mB7-H5 polypeptides, functional fragments of the polypeptides, and fusion proteins containing the polypeptides or functional fragments of the polypeptides, hB7-H5 and mB7-H5 and functional fragments of both, vectors containing the DNA molecules, and cells containing the vectors. Also included in the invention are antibodies that bind to the B7-H5 polypeptides. The invention features in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo methods of co-stimulating T cell responses, methods of screening for compounds that inhibit or enhance T cell responses, and methods for producing the above polypeptides and fusion proteins.

Specifically the invention features an isolated nucleic acid (e.g., a DNA) including: (a) a nucleic acid sequence that (i) encodes a B7-H5 polypeptide with the ability to co-stimulate a T cell, and (ii) hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 or to the complement of a sequence that encodes a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3; or (b) a complement of this nucleic acid sequence. The nucleic acid sequence included in the isolated DNA will be at least 10 bp, 15 bp, 25 bp, 50 bp, 75 bp, 100 bp, 125 bp, 150 bp, 175 bp, 200 bp, 250 bp, 300 bp, 350 bp, 400 bp, 450 bp, 500 bp, 550 bp, 600 bp, 650 bp, 700 bp, 750, bp 800 bp, 850 bp, 900 bp, 910 bp, 915 bp, 920 bp, 925 bp, 926 bp, 927 bp, 928 bp, 929 bp, 930 bp, 931 bp, 932 bp, or 933 bp long. The nucleic acid sequence can encode a B7-H5 polypeptide that includes an amino sequence with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ 1D NO:3 with up to 20 (e.g., 0, 2, 5, 10, or 15) amino acid insertions, deletions, or substitutions, or it can have a nucleotide sequence that includes SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. The nucleic acid sequence can also encode functional fragments of these B7-H5 polypeptides, e.g., fragments with the ability to co-stimulate a T cell.

The invention also embodies an isolated B7-H5 polypeptide, e.g., a polypeptide encoded by a DNA that includes a nucleic acid sequence that (i) encodes a polypeptide with the ability to co-stimulate a T cell and (ii) hybridizes under stringent conditions to the complement of a sequence that encodes a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3. The B7-H5 polypeptide can include an amino sequence of amino acid residue 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 to amino acid residue 311 of SEQ ID NO:1 or amino acid residue 309 of SEQ ID NO:3. The invention also encompasses B7-H5 polypeptides that include an amino acid sequence with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or either of these amino acid sequences but differing solely by not more than 20 (e.g., not more than 15, 10, 5, 2, or 1) conservative substitutions or by not more than 20 (e.g., not more than 15, 10, 5, 2, or 1) amino acid insertions, deletions, or substitutions, and further encompasses functional fragments of any of these polypeptides, e.g., a fragment that has the ability to co-stimulate a T cell. Also included are isolated immunogenic polypeptides comprising at least 8 (e.g., 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, or 50) consecutive residues of the polypeptides disclosed herein. The polypeptides of the invention include fusion proteins containing a first domain and at least one additional domain. The first domain can be any of the B7-H5 polypeptides described above or a functional fragment of any of these polypeptides. The at least one additional domain can be, for example, a heterologous targeting or leader sequence, or an amino acid sequence that facilitates purification, detection, or solubility of the fusion protein. The second domain can be, for example, all or part of an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain constant region. Also included are isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the fusion proteins.

The invention features vectors containing any of the nucleic acids of the invention and nucleic acid molecules encoding the fusion proteins of the invention. The vectors can be expression vectors in which the nucleic acid coding sequence or molecule is operably linked to an expression control sequence, e.g., a regulatory element that allows expression of the nucleic acid sequence or molecule in a cell. Also included in the invention are cells (e.g., mammalian, insect, yeast, fungal, or bacterial cells) containing any of the vectors of the invention.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of co-stimulating a T cell that involves contacting the T cell with any of the B7-H5 polypeptides of the invention, functional fragments thereof, or fusion proteins of the invention; these 3 classes of molecule are, for convenience, designated “B7-H5 agents.” The contacting can be by culturing any of these B7-H5 agents with the T cell in vitro. Alternatively, the T cell can be in a mammal (e.g., a human, non-human primate (e.g., monkey), mouse, rat, guinea pig, cow, sheep, horse, pig, rabbit, dog, or cat) and the contacting can be, for example, by administering any of the B7-H5 agents to the mammal or administering a nucleic acid encoding the B7-H5 agent to the mammal. In addition, the method can be an ex vivo procedure that involves providing a recombinant cell which is the progeny of a cell obtained from the mammal and has been transfected or transformed ex vivo with a nucleic acid encoding any of the B7-H5 agents so that the cell expresses the B7-H5 agent; and administering the cell to the mammal. In this ex vivo procedure, the cell can be an antigen presenting cell (APC) that expresses the B7-H5 agent on its surface. Furthermore, prior to administering to the mammal, the APC can be pulsed with an antigen or an antigenic peptide. In any of the above methods, the mammal can be suspected of having, for example, an immunodeficiency disease, an inflammatory condition, or an autoimmune disease. In addition, in any of the methods, the T cell can be a helper T cell, e.g., a T cell that helps an effector (e.g., a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) or B cell antibody) response. An antibody response can be, for example, an IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3, IgG4, IgE, or IgA antibody response. Co-stimulation of a T cell by any of the B7-H5 agents can result in an increase in the level of CD40 ligand on the surface of the T cell.

The invention includes a method of identifying a compound that inhibits an immune response. The method involves: providing a test compound; culturing, together, the compound, one or more B7-H5 agents, a T cell, and a T cell activating stimulus; and determining whether the test compound inhibits the response of the T cell to the stimulus, as an indication that the test compound inhibits an immune response. The invention also embodies a method of identifying a compound that enhances an immune response. The method involves: providing a test compound; culturing, together, the compound, one or more of B7-H5 agents, a T cell, and a T cell activating stimulus; and determining whether the test compound enhances the response of the T cell to the stimulus, as an indication that the test compound enhances an immune response. In both these methods, the stimulus can be, for example, an antibody that binds to a T cell receptor or a CD3 polypeptide. Alternatively, the stimulus can be an alloantigen or an antigenic peptide bound to a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule on the surface of an antigen presenting cell (APC). The APC can be transfected or transformed with a nucleic acid encoding the B7-H5 agent and the B7-H5 agent can be expressed on the surface of the APC.

The invention also features an antibody (e.g., a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody) that binds to any of the B7-H5 polypeptides of the invention, e.g., the polypeptide with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, e.g., the 5H9 or the 1H11 monoclonal antibody disclosed herein. The invention also provides hybridomas secreting such monoclonal antibodies.

The invention also features a method of producing any of the B7-H5 polypeptides of the invention, functional fragments thereof, or fusion proteins of the invention. The method involves culturing a cell of the invention and purifying the relevant B7-H5 protein from the culture.

“Polypeptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably and mean any peptide-linked chain of amino acids, regardless of length or post-translational modification. The invention also features B7-H5 polypeptides with conservative substitutions. Conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine and alanine; valine, isoleucine, and leucine; aspartic acid and glutamic acid; asparagine, glutamine, serine and threonine; lysine, histidine and arginine; and phenylalanine and tyrosine.

The term “isolated” polypeptide or peptide fragment as used herein refers to a polypeptide or a peptide fragment which either has no naturally-occurring counterpart (e.g., a peptidomimetic), or has been separated or purified from components which naturally accompany it, e.g., in tissues such as pancreas, liver, spleen, ovary, testis, muscle, joint tissue, neural tissue, gastrointestinal tissue, or body fluids such as blood, serum, or urine. Typically, the polypeptide or peptide fragment is considered “isolated” when it is at least 70%, by dry weight, free from the proteins and naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Preferably, a preparation of a polypeptide (or peptide fragment thereof) of the invention is at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by dry weight, the polypeptide (or the peptide fragment thereof), respectively, of the invention. Thus, for example, a preparation of polypeptide x is at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by dry weight, polypeptide x. Since a polypeptide that is chemically synthesized is, by its nature, separated from the components that naturally accompany it, the synthetic polypeptide or nucleic acid is “isolated.”

An isolated polypeptide (or peptide fragment) of the invention can be obtained, for example, by extraction from a natural source (e.g., from human tissues or bodily fluids); by expression of a recombinant nucleic acid encoding the peptide; or by chemical synthesis. A peptide that is produced in a cellular system different from the source from which it naturally originates is “isolated,” because it will be separated from components which naturally accompany it. The extent of isolation or purity can be measured by any appropriate method, e.g., column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or HPLC analysis.

An “isolated DNA” means DNA free of one or both of the genes that flank the gene containing the DNA of interest in the genome of the organism in which the gene containing the DNA of interest naturally occurs. The term therefore includes a recombinant DNA incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote. It also includes a separate molecule such as: a cDNA where the corresponding genomic DNA has introns and therefore a different sequence; a genomic fragment; a fragment produced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); a restriction fragment; a DNA encoding a non-naturally occurring protein, fusion protein, or fragment of a given protein; or a nucleic acid which is a degenerate variant of a naturally occurring nucleic acid. In addition, it includes a recombinant nucleotide sequence that is part of a hybrid gene, i.e., a gene encoding a fusion protein. Also included is a recombinant DNA that includes a portion of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, or SEQ ID NO:6. It will be apparent from the foregoing that isolated DNA does not mean a DNA present among hundreds to millions of other DNA molecules within, for example, cDNA or genomic DNA libraries or genomic DNA restriction digests in, for example, a restriction digest reaction mixture or an electrophoretic gel slice.

As used herein, a polypeptide that “co-stimulates” a T cell is a polypeptide that, upon interaction with a cell-surface molecule on the T cell, enhances the response of the T cell. The T cell response that results from the interaction will be greater than the response in the absence of the polypeptide. The response of the T cell in the absence of the co-stimulatory polypeptide can be no response or it can be a response significantly lower than in the presence of the co-stimulatory polypeptide. It is understood that the response of the T cell can be an effector (e.g., CTL or antibody-producing B cell) response, a helper response providing help for one or more effector (e.g., CTL or antibody-producing B cell) responses, or a suppressive response.

As used herein, an “activating stimulus” is a molecule that delivers an activating signal to a T cell, preferably through the antigen specific T cell receptor (TCR). The activating stimulus can be sufficient to elicit a detectable response in the T cell. Alternatively, the T cell may require co-stimulation (e.g., by a B7-H5 polypeptide) in order to respond detectably to the activating stimulus. Examples of activating stimuli include, without limitation, antibodies that bind to the TCR or to a polypeptide of the CD3 complex that is physically associated with the TCR on the T cell surface, alloantigens, or an antigenic peptide bound to a MHC molecule.

As used herein, a “fragment” of a B7-H5 polypeptide is a fragment of the polypeptide that is shorter than the full-length, immature polypeptide. Generally, fragments will be 5 or more amino acids, e.g., 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 260, 270, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 303, 306, or 308 or more amino acids, in length. An antigenic fragment has the ability to be recognized and bound by an antibody. In certain embodiments, antigenic fragments are also functional fragments.

As used herein, a “functional fragment” of a B7-H5 polypeptide is a fragment of the polypeptide that is shorter than the full-length, immature polypeptide and has at least 25% (e.g., at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or even 100% or more) of the ability of the full-length mature B7-H5 polypeptide to co-stimulate a T cell. Methods of establishing whether a fragment of an B7-H5 molecule is functional are known in the art. For example, fragments of interest can be made by either recombinant, synthetic, or proteolytic digestive methods. Such fragments can then be isolated and tested for their ability to co-stimulate T cells by procedures described herein.

As used herein, “operably linked” means incorporated into a genetic construct so that expression control sequences effectively control expression of a coding sequence of interest.

As used herein, the term “antibody” refers not only to whole antibody molecules, but also to antigen-binding fragments, e.g., Fab, F(ab′)2, Fv, and single chain Fv fragments. Also included are chimeric antibodies.

As used herein, an antibody that “binds specifically” to an isolated B7-H5 polypeptide encoded by a DNA that includes a nucleic acid sequence that (i) encodes a polypeptide with the ability to co-stimulate a T cell and (ii) hybridizes under stringent conditions to the complement of a sequence that encodes a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence with SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, is an antibody that does not bind to B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, B7-H2, B7-H3, or B7H-4 polypeptides.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and, scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. Preferred methods and materials are described below, although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. The materials, methods, and examples disclosed herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the invention, e.g., enhancing immune responses in mammalian subjects, will be apparent from the following description, from the drawings and. from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) of a cDNA clone that includes a sequence encoding a human B7-H5 polypeptide. The B7-H5 start codon is indicated by bold and underscore. The B7-H5 stop codon is indicated by underscore.

FIG. 2 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) that includes a sequence encoding a mouse B7-H5 polypeptide. The B7-H5 start codon is indicated by bold and underscore. The B7-H5 stop codon is indicated by underscore.

FIG. 3 is an annotated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) of human B7-H5. The IgV-like domain is underlined; a predicted intermolecular cysteine is indicated in bold and underscore; the predicted transmembrane domain is indicated in bold; a tyrosine that is potentially subject to phosphorylation is boxed.

FIG. 4 is an annotated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) of mouse B7-H5. The IgV-like domain is underlined; a predicted intermolecular cysteine is indicated by bold and underscore; the predicted transmembrane domain is indicated in bold; tyrosines that are potentially subject to phosphorylation are boxed.

FIG. 5 is a representation of the domain structure of human B7-H5. A predicted signal sequence includes residues 1-29 of SEQ ID NO:1. A predicted immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain includes residues 30-170 of SEQ ID NO:1. A predicted linker domain includes residues 171-194 of SEQ ID NO:1. A predicted transmembrane domain includes residues 195-216 of SEQ ID NO:1. Residues 217-311 form a predicted intracellular domain, with residues 280-292 forming a low complexity/structured motif. The domain structure and topology are conserved between the human and mouse B7-H5 polypeptides.

FIG. 6 is a structure-based alignment of B7-H5 and other B7 family members. Aligned are the amino acid sequences of segments of the B7 family (h: human, m: mouse) polypeptides (including B7-H5) that contain immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) V-domain sequences. IgSF V-set consensus residues are shown on a black background. Consensus residue positions are labeled with invariant IgSF residues or conserved residue character (h: hydrophobic, p: polar). Residue positions shown on a gray background are signature residues of the B7 family outside IgSF consensus positions. Beta-strands of the V-domain are designated according to IgSF conventions (A′, B, C, C′, C″, D, F, G). Residue positions labeled with # are involved in dimerization of CD80/CD86 in their crystal structures and residues labeled with asterisks participate in CTLA4 binding. The amino acid sequences of the hCD80, hCD86, hB7-H1, mB7-H1, hB7-H2, hB7-H3, hB7-DC, mB7-DC, hB7-H4, mB7-H4, hB7-H5, and mB7-H5 segments are set forth herein as SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, and SEQ ID NO:22, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a line graph depicting in vitro co-stimulation of T cell proliferation by B7-H5. T cell proliferation is depicted as ³H-thymidine incorporation (y-axis; counts per minute, cpm). Anti-CD3 antibody concentration is indicated on the x-axis.

FIG. 8A is a fluorescence flow cytometry (FFC) histogram depicting number of cells (y-axis) with the indicated fluorescence levels (x-axis). CHO cell transfectants expressing human B7-H5 (open) or mock-transfected CHO cells (solid) were stained with the 5H9 monoclonal antibody.

FIG. 8B is a FFC histogram depicting number of cells (y-axis) with the indicated fluorescence levels (x-axis). CHO cell transfectants expressing human B7-H5 (open) or mock-transfected CHO cells (solid) were stained with the 1H11 monoclonal antibody.

FIG. 9 is a translated nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) of a cDNA encoding human B7-H5.

FIG. 10 is a translated nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) of a cDNA encoding mouse B7-H5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The applicants have discovered, inter alia, a new member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules, which has been designated B7-H5. Both the human and mouse B7-H5 polypeptides and nucleotides encoding them are disclosed. Similar to other members of the B7 family, these B7-H5 polypeptides can co-stimulate T cells.

Nucleic Acid Molecules

The B7-H5 nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, or RNA, and can be double-stranded or single-stranded (i.e., either a sense or an antisense strand or both). Fragments of these molecules are also considered within the scope of the invention, and can be produced by, for example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or generated by treatment with one or more restriction endonucleases. A ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule can be produced by in vitro transcription. Preferably, the nucleic acid molecules encode polypeptides that, regardless of length, are soluble under normal physiological conditions.

The nucleic acid molecules of the invention can contain naturally occurring sequences, or sequences that differ from those that occur naturally, but, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, encode the same polypeptide (for example, the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs:1 or 3). In addition, these nucleic acid molecules are not limited to coding sequences, e.g., they can include some or all of the non-coding sequences that lie upstream or downstream from a coding sequence.

Nucleic acids of the invention can be nucleic acid analogs. Nucleic acid analogs can be modified at the base moiety, sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone. Such modification can improve, for example, stability, hybridization, or solubility of the nucleic acid. Modifications at the base moiety can include deoxyuridine for deoxythymidine, and 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine or 5-bromo-2′-deoxycytidine for deoxycytidine. Modifications of the sugar moiety can include modification of the 2′ hydroxyl of the ribose sugar to form 2′-O-methyl or 2′-O-allyl sugars. The deoxyribose phosphate backbone can be modified to produce morpholino nucleic acids, in which each base moiety is linked to a six membered, morpholino ring, or peptide nucleic acids, in which the deoxyphosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide backbone and the four bases are retained. See, for example, Summerton and Weller (1997) Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 7:187-195; and Hyrup et al. (1996) Bioorgan. Med. Chem. 4:5-23. In addition, the deoxyphosphate backbone can be replaced with, for example, a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate backbone, a phosphoroamidite, or an alkyl phosphotriester backbone.

The nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be synthesized (for example, by phosphoramidite-based synthesis) or obtained from a biological cell, such as the cell of a mammal. Thus, the nucleic acids can be those of a human, non-human primate (e.g., monkey) mouse, rat, guinea pig, cow, sheep, horse, pig, rabbit, dog, or cat.

In addition, the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention encompass segments that are not found as such in the natural state. Thus, the invention encompasses recombinant nucleic acid molecules (for example, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding B7-H5) incorporated into a vector (for example, a plasmid or viral vector) or into the genome of a heterologous cell or into the genome of a homologous cell at a position other than the natural chromosomal location. Recombinant nucleic acid molecules and uses therefor are discussed further below.

Certain nucleic acid molecules of the invention are antisense molecules or are transcribed into antisense molecules. These can be used, for example, to down-regulate translation of B7-H5 mRNA within a cell. Techniques associated with detection or regulation of genes are well known to skilled artisans and such techniques can be used to diagnose and/or treat disorders associated with aberrant B7-H5 expression. Nucleic acid molecules of the invention are discussed further below in the context of their therapeutic utility.

A B7-H5 family gene or protein can be identified based on its similarity to the relevant B7-H5 gene or protein, respectively. For example, the identification can be based on sequence identity. The invention features isolated nucleic acid molecules which are identical to, or are at least 50% (or 55%, 65%, 75%, 85%, 95%, or 98%) identical to: (a) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3; (b) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; or (c) a nucleic acid molecule which includes a segment of at least 10 (e.g., at least 15, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 910, 915, 920, 925, 926, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, or 933) nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

The determination of percent identity between two sequences is accomplished using the mathematical algorithm of Karlin and Altschul, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90, 5873-5877, 1993. Such an algorithm is incorporated into the BLASTN and BLASTP programs of Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215, 403-410. BLAST nucleotide searches are performed with the BLASTN program, score=100, wordlength=12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to B7-H5-encoding nucleic acids. BLAST protein searches are performed with the BLASTP program, score=50, wordlength=3 to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to B7-H5. To obtain gapped alignments for comparative purposes, Gapped BLAST is utilized as described in Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 3389-3402. When utilizing BLAST and Gapped BLAST programs, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g.,)(BLAST and NBLAST) are used (see ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

Hybridization can also be used as a measure of homology between two nucleic acid sequences. A B7-H5-encoding nucleic acid sequence, or a portion thereof, can be used as hybridization probe according to standard hybridization techniques. The hybridization of a B7-H5 probe to DNA from a test source (e.g., a mammalian cell) is an indication of the presence of B7-H5 DNA in the test source. Hybridization conditions are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y., 6.3.1-6.3.6, 1991. Moderate hybridization conditions are defined as equivalent to hybridization in 2× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at 30° C., followed by one or more washes in 1× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50-60° C. Highly stringent conditions are defined as equivalent to hybridization in 6× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at 45° C., followed by one or more washes in 0.2× SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50-65° C.

The invention also encompasses: (a) vectors that contain any of the foregoing B7-H5-related coding sequences and/or their complements (that is, “antisense” sequence); (b) expression vectors that contain any of the foregoing B7-H5-related coding sequences operatively linked to one or more transcriptional/translational regulatory elements (examples of which are given below) that direct expression of the coding sequences; (c) expression vectors containing, in addition to sequences encoding a B7-H5 polypeptide, nucleic acid sequences that are unrelated to nucleic acid sequences encoding B7-H5, such as molecules encoding a reporter, marker, or a signal peptide, e.g., fused to B7-H5; and (d) genetically engineered host cells that contain any of the foregoing expression vectors and thereby express the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.

Recombinant nucleic acid molecules can contain a sequence encoding B7-H5 having a heterologous signal sequence. The full length B7-H5 polypeptide, a domain of B7-H5, or a fragment thereof may be fused to additional polypeptides, as described below. Similarly, the nucleic acid molecules of the invention can encode the mature form of B7-H5 or a form that includes an exogenous polypeptide that facilitates secretion.

The transcriptional/translational regulatory elements referred to above and which are further described below, include, but are not limited to, inducible and non-inducible promoters, enhancers, operators and other elements, which are known to those skilled in the art, and which drive or otherwise regulate gene expression. Such regulatory elements include but are not limited to the cytomegalovirus hCMV immediate early gene, the early or late promoters of SV40 adenovirus, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC system, the TRC system, the major operator and promoter regions of phage A, the control regions of fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, the promoters of acid phosphatase, and the promoters of the yeast α-mating factors.

Similarly, the nucleic acid can form part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequences, for example, sequences that function as a marker or reporter. Examples of marker or reporter genes include β-lactamase, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), adenosine deaminase (ADA), aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (neo^(r), G418^(r)), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), hygromycin-B-phosphotransferase (HPH), thymidine kinase (TK), lacZ (encoding β-galactosidase), and xanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (XGPRT). As with many of the standard procedures associated with the practice of the invention, skilled artisans will be aware of additional useful reagents, for example, additional sequences that can serve the function of a marker or reporter. Generally, the hybrid polypeptide will include a first portion and a second portion; the first portion being a B7-H5 polypeptide (or any of the fragment of such a polypeptide disclosed herein) and the second portion being, for example, the reporter described above or an Ig constant region or part of an Ig constant region, e.g., the CH2 and CH3 domains of IgG2a.

The expression systems that may be used for purposes of the invention include, but are not limited to, microorganisms such as bacteria (for example, E. coli and B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention; yeast (for example, Saccharomyces and Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, preferably containing a nucleic acid sequence (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 or 4) encoding a B7-H5 polypeptide; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (for example, baculovirus) containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (for example, cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (for example, Ti plasmid) containing B7-H5 nucleotide sequences; or mammalian cell systems (for example, COS, CHO, BHK, 293, VERO, HeLa, MDCK, WI38, and NIH 3T3 cells) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (for example, the metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (for example, the adenovirus late promoter and the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter). Also useful as host cells are primary or secondary cells obtained directly from a mammal transfected with a plasmid vector or infected with a viral vector.

A host cell (e.g., a prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell such as a COS cell) can be used to, for example, produce the costimulatory polypeptides provided herein. In some embodiments, a host cell (e.g., an APC) can be used to express the costimulatory polypeptides of the invention for presentation to a T cell.

Polypeptides and Polypeptide Fragments

The polypeptides of the invention include B7-H5 and functional fragments thereof. The polypeptides disclosed herein also include fusion proteins which contain either full-length B7-H5 or a functional fragment thereof fused to an unrelated amino acid sequence. The unrelated sequences can be additional functional domains or signal peptides. Signal peptides are described in greater detail and exemplified below. The polypeptides can also be any of those described above but with one or more conservative substitutions.

The polypeptides can be purified from natural sources (e.g., blood, serum plasma, tissues, or cells such as T cells or any cell that naturally produces B7-H5). Polypeptides can also be conveniently synthesized by standard chemical means. In addition, polypeptides can be produced by standard in vitro recombinant DNA techniques and in vivo recombination/genetic recombination (e.g., transgenesis), using the nucleotide sequences encoding the appropriate polypeptides. Methods well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing relevant coding sequences and appropriate transcriptional/translational control signals. See, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd Ed.) (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y., 1989), and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y., 1989).

Polypeptides and fragments of the invention also include those described above, but modified for in vivo use by the addition, the amino- and/or carboxyl-terminal ends, of a blocking agent to facilitate survival of the relevant polypeptide in vivo. This can be useful in those situations in which the peptide termini tend to be degraded by proteases prior to cellular uptake. Such blocking agents can include, without limitation, additional related or unrelated peptide sequences that can be attached to the amino and/or carboxyl terminal residues of the peptide to be administered. This can be done either chemically during the synthesis of the peptide or by recombinant DNA technology by methods familiar to artisans of average skill.

Alternatively, blocking agents such as pyroglutamic acid or other molecules known in the art can be attached to the amino and/or carboxyl terminal residues, or the amino group at the amino terminus or carboxyl group at the carboxyl terminus can be replaced with a different moiety. Likewise, the peptides can be covalently or noncovalently coupled to pharmaceutically acceptable “carrier” proteins prior to administration.

B7-H5 polypeptides can be purified using, for example, chromatographic methods such as DEAE ion exchange, gel filtration, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. For example, a B7-H5 polypeptide in a cell culture supernatant or a cytoplasmic extract can be purified using a protein G column. In some embodiments, B7-H5 polypeptides can be “engineered” to contain an amino acid sequence that allows the polypeptides to be captured onto an affinity matrix. For example, a tag such as c-myc, glutathione S-transferase (GST), hemagglutinin, polyhistidine, or Flag™ (Kodak) can be used to aid polypeptide purification. Such tags can be inserted anywhere within the polypeptide, including at either the carboxyl or amino terminus. Immunoaffinity chromatography also can be used to purify costimulatory polypeptides.

Also of interest are peptidomimetic compounds that are designed based upon the amino acid sequences of the functional peptide fragments. Peptidomimetic compounds are synthetic compounds having a three-dimensional conformation (i.e., a “peptide motif”) that is substantially the same as the three-dimensional conformation of a selected peptide. The peptide motif provides the peptidomimetic compound with the ability to co-stimulate T cells in a manner qualitatively identical to that of the B7-H5 functional peptide fragment from which the peptidomimetic was derived. Peptidomimetic compounds can have additional characteristics that enhance their therapeutic utility, such as increased cell permeability and prolonged biological half-life.

The peptidomimetics typically have a backbone that is partially or completely non-peptide, but with side groups that are identical to the side groups of the amino acid residues that occur in the peptide on which the peptidomimetic is based. Several types of chemical bonds, e.g., ester, thioester, thioamide, retroamide, reduced carbonyl, dimethylene and ketomethylene bonds, are known in the art to be generally useful substitutes for peptide bonds in the construction of protease-resistant peptidomimetics.

Methods of Co-stimulating a T Cell

The methods of the invention involve contacting a T cell with a B7-H5 polypeptide of the invention, or a functional fragment thereof, in order to co-stimulate the T cell. Such polypeptides or functional fragments can have amino acid sequences identical to wild-type sequences or they can contain one or more conservative substitutions. The contacting can occur before, during, or after activation of the T cell. Contacting of the T cell with the B7-H5 polypeptide will preferably be at substantially the same time as activation. Activation can be, for example, by exposing the T cell to an antibody that binds to the T cell receptor (TCR) or one of the polypeptides of the CD3 complex that is physically associated with the TCR. Alternatively, the T cell can be exposed to either an alloantigen (e.g., a major histocompatibility (MHC) alloantigen) on, for example, an antigen presenting cell (APC) (e.g., a dendritic cell, a macrophage, a monocyte, or a B cell) or an antigenic peptide produced by processing of a protein antigen by any of the above APC and presented to the T cell by MHC molecules on the surface of the APC. The T cell can be a CD4⁺ T cell or a CD8⁺ T cell. The B7-H5 polypeptide can be added to the solution containing the cells, or it can be expressed on the surface of an APC, e.g., an APC presenting an alloantigen or an antigen peptide bound to an MHC molecule. Alternatively, if the activation is in vitro, the B7-H5 polypeptide can be bound to a surface of the relevant culture vessel, e.g., a well of a plastic microtiter plate.

The methods can be performed in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo. In vitro application of B7-H5 can be useful, for example, in basic scientific studies of immune mechanisms or for production of activated T cells for use in either studies on T cell function or, for example, passive immunotherapy. Furthermore, B7-H5 could be added to in vitro assays (e.g., in T cell proliferation assays) designed to test for immunity to an antigen of interest in a subject from which the T cells were obtained. Addition of B7-H5 to such assays would be expected to result in a more potent, and therefore more readily detectable, in vitro response. However, the methods of the invention will preferably be in vivo or ex vivo (see below).

The B7-H5 polypeptides and variants thereof are generally useful as immune response-stimulating therapeutics. For example, the polypeptides of the invention can be used for treatment of disease conditions characterized by immunosuppression: e.g., cancer, AIDS or AIDS-related complex, other virally or environmentally-induced conditions, and certain congenital immune deficiencies. The polypeptides may also be employed to increase immune function that has been impaired by the use of radiotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs such as certain chemotherapeutic agents, and therefore are particularly useful when given in conjunction with such drugs or radiotherapy. The polypeptides can, furthermore, be used to enhance immune responses in normal subjects.

These methods of the invention can be applied to a wide range of species, e.g., humans, non-human primates, horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice.

In Vivo Approaches

In one in vivo approach, a B7-H5 polypeptide (or a functional fragment thereof) itself is administered to the subject. Generally, the compounds of the invention will be suspended in a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier (e.g., physiological saline) and administered orally or by intravenous infusion, or injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intrarectally, intravaginally, intranasally, intragastrically, intratracheally, or intrapulmonarily. They are preferably delivered directly to an appropriate lymphoid tissue (e.g. spleen, lymph node, or mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)). The dosage required depends on the choice of the route of administration, the nature of the formulation, the nature of the patient's illness, the subject's size, weight, surface area, age, and sex, other drugs being administered, and the judgment of the attending physician. Suitable dosages are in the range of 0.01-10 mg/kg. Wide variations in the needed dosage are to be expected in view of the variety of polypeptides and fragments available and the differing efficiencies of various routes of administration. For example, oral administration would be expected to require higher dosages than administration by i.v. injection. Variations in these dosage levels can be adjusted using standard empirical routines for optimization as is well understood in the art. Administrations can be single or multiple (e.g., 2- or 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 20-, 50-,100-, 150-, or more fold). Encapsulation of the polypeptide in a suitable delivery vehicle (e.g., polymeric microparticles or implantable devices) may increase the efficiency of delivery, particularly for oral delivery.

Alternatively, a polynucleotide containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding a B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment thereof can be delivered to an appropriate cell of the animal. Expression of the coding sequence will preferably be directed to lymphoid tissue of the subject by, for example, delivery of the polynucleotide to the lymphoid tissue. This can be achieved by, for example, the use of a polymeric, biodegradable microparticle or microcapsule delivery vehicle, sized to optimize phagocytosis by phagocytic cells such as macrophages. For example, PLGA (poly-lacto-co-glycolide) microparticles approximately 1-10 μm in diameter can be used. The polynucleotide is encapsulated in these microparticles, which are taken up by macrophages and gradually biodegraded within the cell, thereby releasing the polynucleotide. Once released, the DNA is expressed within the cell. A second type of microparticle is intended not to be taken up directly by cells, but rather to serve primarily as a slow-release reservoir of nucleic acid that is taken up by cells only upon release from the micro-particle through biodegradation. These polymeric particles should therefore be large enough to preclude phagocytosis, i.e., larger than 5 μm and preferably larger than 20 μm.

Another way to achieve uptake of the nucleic acid is using liposomes, prepared by standard methods. The vectors described herein can be incorporated alone into these delivery vehicles or co-incorporated with tissue-specific antibodies. Alternatively, one can prepare a molecular conjugate composed of a plasmid or other vector attached to poly-L-lysine by electrostatic or covalent forces. Poly-L-lysine binds to a ligand that can bind to a receptor on target cells (Cristiano et al. (1995), J. Mol. Med. 73, 479). Alternatively, lymphoid tissue specific targeting can be achieved by the use of lymphoid tissue-specific transcriptional regulatory elements (TRE) such as a B lymphocyte, T lymphocyte, or dendritic cell specific TRE. Lymphoid tissue specific TRE are known (Thompson et al. (1992), Mol. Cell. Biol. 12, 1043-1053; Todd et al. (1993), J. Exp. Med. 177, 1663-1674; Penix et al. (1993), J. Exp. Med. 178, 1483-1496). Delivery of “naked DNA” (i.e., without a delivery vehicle) to an intramuscular, intradermal, or subcutaneous site, is another means to achieve in vivo expression.

In the relevant polynucleotides (e.g., expression vectors) the nucleic acid sequence encoding a B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment of interest with an initiator methionine and optionally a targeting sequence is operatively linked to a promoter or enhancer-promoter combination.

Short amino acid sequences can act as signals to direct proteins to specific intracellular compartments. For example, hydrophobic signal peptides (e.g., MAISGVPVLGFFIIAVLMSAQESWA (SEQ ID NO:7)) are found at the amino terminus of proteins destined for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Whereas the sequence KFERQ (SEQ ID NO:8) and other closely related sequences are known to target intracellular polypeptides to lysosomes, other sequences (e.g., MDDQRDLISNNEQLP (SEQ ID NO:9) direct polypeptides to endosomes. In addition, the peptide sequence KDEL (SEQ ID NO:10) has been shown to act as a retention signal for the ER. Each of these signal peptides, or a combination thereof, can be used to traffic the B7-H5 polypeptides or functional fragments of the invention as desired. DNAs encoding the B7-H5 polypeptides or functional fragments containing targeting signals will be generated by PCR or other standard genetic engineering or synthetic techniques.

A promoter is a TRE composed of a region of a DNA molecule, typically within 100 base pairs upstream of the point at which transcription starts. Enhancers provide expression specificity in terms of time, location, and level. Unlike a promoter, an enhancer can function when located at variable distances from the transcription site, provided a promoter is present. An enhancer can also be located downstream of the transcription initiation site. To bring a coding sequence under the control of a promoter, it is necessary to position the translation initiation site of the translational reading frame of the peptide or polypeptide between one and about fifty nucleotides downstream (3′) of the promoter. The coding sequence of the expression vector is operatively linked to a transcription terminating region.

Suitable expression vectors include plasmids and viral vectors such as herpes viruses, retroviruses, vaccinia viruses, attenuated vaccinia viruses, canary pox viruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses, among others.

Polynucleotides can be administered in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are biologically compatible vehicles which are suitable for administration to a human, e.g., physiological saline. A therapeutically effective amount is an amount of the polynucleotide which is capable of producing a medically desirable result (e.g., an enhanced T cell response) in a treated animal. As is well known in the medical arts, the dosage for any one patient depends upon many factors, including the patient's size, body surface area, age, the particular compound to be administered, sex, time and route of administration, general health, and other drugs being administered concurrently. Dosages will vary, but a preferred dosage for administration of polynucleotide is from approximately 10⁶ to 10¹² copies of the polynucleotide molecule. This dose can be repeatedly administered, as needed. Routes of administration can be any of those listed above.

Included in these in vivo approaches, are methods of co-stimulating a T cell that involve administering more than one co-stimulatory molecule or functional fragment thereof. Such combinations can be any combination of one or more of co-stimulatory polypeptides, e.g., B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, B7-H2, B7-H3, B7-H4, B7-H5, 4-1BB, OX40, or HVEM and functional fragments of any of these. The proteins or functional fragments per se can be administered or nucleic acids (e.g., expression vectors) encoding the proteins or functional fragments can be administered. Where expression vectors are used, a single vector containing coding sequences for two or more of the co-stimulatory polypeptides or functional fragments can be administered. Alternatively, multiple (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) individual vectors, each encoding one or more (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) of the co-stimulatory polypeptides or functional fragments thereof can be administered.

Ex Vivo Approaches

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can be withdrawn from the patient or a suitable donor and exposed ex vivo to an activating stimulus (see above) and a B7-H5 polypeptide or polypeptide fragment (whether in soluble form or attached to a sold support by standard methodologies). The PBMC containing highly activated T cells are then introduced into the same or a different patient.

An alternative ex vivo strategy can involve transfecting or transducing cells obtained from the subject with a polynucleotide encoding a B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment-encoding nucleic acid sequences described above. The transfected or transduced cells are then returned to the subject. Such cells are preferably hematological cells (e.g., bone marrow cells, macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, or B cells), although they can also be any of a wide range of types including, without limitation, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, or muscle cells in which they act as a source of the B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment thereof for as long as they survive in the subject. The use of hematological cells that include the above APC would be particularly advantageous in that such cells would be expected to home to, among others, lymphoid tissue (e.g., lymph nodes or spleen) and thus the B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment would be produced in high concentration at the site where they exert their effect, i.e., enhancement of an immune response. In addition, if APC are used, the APC expressing the exogenous B7-H5 molecule can be the same APC that presents an alloantigen or antigenic peptide to the relevant T cell. The B7-H5 polypeptides can be secreted by the APC or expressed on its surface. Prior to returning the recombinant APC to the patient, they can optionally be exposed to sources of antigens or antigenic peptides of interest, e.g., those of tumors, infectious microorganisms, or autoantigens. The same genetic constructs and trafficking sequences described for the in vivo approach can be used for this ex vivo strategy. Furthermore, tumor cells, preferably obtained from a patient, can be transfected or transformed by a vector encoding a B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment thereof. The tumor cells, preferably treated with an agent (e.g., ionizing irradiation) that ablates their proliferative capacity, are then returned to the patient where, due to their expression of the exogenous B7-H5 polypeptides (on their cell surface or secreted), they can stimulate enhanced tumoricidal T cell immune responses. It is understood that the tumor cells that, after transfection or transformation, are injected into the patient, can also have been originally obtained from an individual other than the patient.

The ex vivo methods include the steps of harvesting cells from a subject, culturing the cells, transducing them with an expression vector, and maintaining the cells under conditions suitable for expression of the B7-H5 polypeptide or functional fragment. These methods are known in the art of molecular biology. The transduction step is accomplished by any standard means used for ex vivo gene therapy, including calcium phosphate, lipofection, electroporation, viral infection, and biolistic gene transfer. Alternatively, liposomes or polymeric microparticles can be used. Cells that have been successfully transduced are then selected, for example, for expression of the coding sequence or of a drug resistance gene. The cells may then be lethally irradiated (if desired) and injected or implanted into the patient.

It is understood that in these ex vivo procedures, the cells to be introduced into a subject can be transfected or transformed with one or more (e.g., two, three, four, five, or six) expression vectors containing one or more (e.g., two, three, four, five, or six) sequences encoding any of the co-stimulatory molecules listed above (e.g., B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, B7-H2, B7-H3, B7-H4, or B7-H5) or functional fragments thereof prior to introduction.

Methods of Screening for Compounds that Inhibit or Enhance Immune Responses

The invention provides methods for testing compounds (small molecules or macromolecules) that inhibit or enhance an immune response. Such a method can involve, e.g., culturing a B7-H5 polypeptide of the invention (or a functional fragment thereof) with T cells in the presence of a T cell stimulus (see above). The B7-H5 molecule can be in solution or membrane bound (e.g., expressed on the surface of the T cells) and it can be natural or recombinant. Furthermore, the B7-H5 polypeptides (or functional fragments thereof) can have amino acid sequences identical to wild-type sequences or they can have one or more conservative substitutions. Compounds that inhibit the T cell response will likely be compounds that inhibit an immune response while those that enhance the T cell response will likely be compounds that enhance an immune response.

The invention also relates to using B7-H5 or functional fragments thereof to screen for immunomodulatory compounds that can interact with B7-H5. One of skill in the art would know how to use standard molecular modeling or other techniques to identify small molecules that would bind to T cell interactive sites of B7-H5. One such example is provided in Broughton (1997) Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 1, 392-398.

A candidate compound can modulate, e.g., inhibit or enhance, an immune response. A candidate compound that causes a requirement for at least 1.5-fold (e.g., 2-fold, 4-fold, 6-fold, 10-fold, 150-fold, 1000-fold, 10,000-fold, or 100,000-fold) more B7-H5 in order to achieve a defined arbitrary level of T cell activation than in the absence of the compound can be useful for inhibiting an immune response. On the other hand, a candidate compound that causes a requirement of at least 1.5 fold (e.g., 2-fold, 4-fold, 6-fold, 10-fold, 100-fold, 1000-fold, 10,000 fold, or 100,000-fold) less B7-H5 to achieve a defined arbitrary level of T cell activation than in the absence of the compound can be useful for enhancing an immune response. Compounds capable of interfering with or modulating B7-H5 function are good candidates for immunosuppressive immunoregulatory agents, e.g., to modulate an autoimmune response or suppress allogeneic or xenogeneic graft rejection.

B7-H5 Antibodies

The invention features antibodies that bind to the B7-H5 polypeptides or fragments of such polypeptides. Such antibodies can be polyclonal antibodies present in the serum or plasma of animals (e.g., mice, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, sheep, horses, goats, cows, or pigs) which have been immunized with the relevant B7-H5 polypeptide or peptide fragment using methods, and optionally adjuvants, known in the art. Such polyclonal antibodies can be isolated from serum or plasma by methods known in the art. Monoclonal antibodies that bind to the above polypeptides or fragments are also embodied by the invention, e.g., the 5H9 or the 1H11 monoclonal antibody disclosed herein. Methods of making and screening monoclonal antibodies are well known in the art.

Once the desired antibody-producing hybridoma has been selected and cloned, the resultant antibody can be produced by any of a number of methods known in the art. For example, the hybridoma can be cultured in vitro in a suitable medium for a suitable length of time, followed by the recovery of the desired antibody from the supernatant. The length of time and medium are known or can be readily determined.

Additionally, recombinant antibodies specific for B7-H5, such as chimeric and humanized monoclonal antibodies comprising both human and non-human portions, are within the scope of the invention. Such chimeric and humanized monoclonal antibodies can be produced by recombinant DNA techniques known in the art, for example, using methods described in Robinson et al., International Patent Publication PCT/US86/02269; Akira et al., European Patent Application 184,187; Taniguchi, European Patent Application 171,496; Morrison et al., European Patent Application 173,494; Neuberger et al., PCT Application WO 86/01533; Cabilly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Cabilly et al., European Patent Application 125,023; Better et al. (1988) Science 240, 1041-43; Liu et al. (1987) J. Immunol. 139, 3521-26; Sun et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 214-18; Nishimura et al. (1987) Canc. Res. 47, 999-1005; Wood et al. (1985) Nature 314, 446-49; Shaw et al. (1988) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 80, 1553-59; Morrison, (1985) Science 229, 1202-07; Oi et al. (1986) BioTechniques 4, 214; Winter, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539; Jones et al. (1986) Nature 321, 552-25; Veroeyan et al. (1988) Science 239, 1534; and Beidler et al. (1988) J. Immunol. 141, 4053-60.

Also included within the scope of the invention are antibody fragments and derivatives which contain at least the functional portion of the antigen binding domain of an antibody that binds specifically to B7-H5. Antibody fragments that contain the binding domain of the molecule can be generated by known techniques. For example, such fragments include, but are not limited to: F(ab′)₂ fragments which can be produced by pepsin digestion of antibody molecules; Fab fragments which can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of F(ab')2 fragments; and Fab fragments which can be generated by treating antibody molecules with papain and a reducing agent. See, e.g., National Institutes of Health, 1 Current Protocols In Immunology, Coligan et al., ed. □□2.8, 2.10 (Wiley Interscience, 1991). Antibody fragments also include Fv (e.g., single chain Fv (scFv)) fragments, i.e., antibody products in which there are no constant region amino acid residues. Such fragments can be produced, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,334 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Structure of B7-CD28 Family Molecules

All of the B7-like molecules, e.g., B7-H5, and their receptors are type I transmembrane glycoproteins and are members of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. The members of B7 family share 20-35% identity in their amino acid sequences. Despite such low homology in primary amino acid composition, these molecules share a similar secondary structure: single Ig V-and Ig C-like extracellular domain. Four cysteine residues, which are involved in the formation of the disulfide bonds of the IgV and IgC domains, are well conserved. The receptors for the B7 family are members of the CD28 family, and possess a single IgV-like extracellular domain. Their cytoplasmic tails contain putative SH2- and SH3-motifs thought to be involved in signal transduction.

By crystallography and molecular modeling, tertiary structures for ligands and receptors of the B7-CD28 superfamily have been determined. The interactions of receptor-ligand pairs are mediated predominantly through residues in their IgV domains. In general, IgV domains are described as two-layered β-strands with “front” and “back” sheets. The front and back sheets of CTLA-4 IgV domain consist of strands A‘GFCC’ and ABEDC″, respectively, whereas the front and back sheets of the B7-1/B7-2 IgV domains are composed of strands AGFCC′C″ and BED, respectively. The binding faces between CTLA-4/CD28 and B7-1/B7-2 are dominated by the interaction of the CDR3 analogous loop from CTLA-4/CD28, centered on the MYPPPY motif (SEQ ID NO:23), with the surface formed predominately by conserved residues between B7-1 and B7-2 on the G, F, C, C′ and C″ strands. The MYPPPY motif is not conserved in inducible costimulatory molecules (ICOS), but a related FDPPPF sequence (SEQ ID NO:24) in the analogous position is identified as a major determinant for binding of ICOS to B7-H2. Although the location of the PD-1 binding sites in B7-H1/B7-DC corresponds to the CTLA-4/CD28 binding sites in B7-1/B7-2, B7-H1 and B7-DC utilize non-conserved residues on their A′GFCC′C″ face to bind PD-1. Crystal structures of CTLA-4/B7complexes contain bivalent homodimers of CTLA-4 with B7-binding sites located distally to the CTLA-4 dimer interface, which suggests that the CTLA-4 homodimer can bind to noncovalent homodimers of B7-1 or B7-2 to form a lattice of CTLA-4/B7 interactions. Formation of such a lattice is thought to trigger the formation of stable signaling complexes as part of the immunological synapse. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the three-dimensional structure of B7-H5 molecules is likely to be similar to that of other B7 family members.

The following example is meant to illustrate, not limit, the invention.

Example

A human B7-H5 cDNA (FIG. 1; SEQ ID NO:5) was identified from the NCBI database based on homology to other B7 family molecules, including B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), B7-H1 (PD-L1), B7-H2 (B7h/B7RP-1), B7-H3, B7-DC (PD-L2) and

B7-H4 (B7x). Full-length human B7-H5 cDNA (FIG. 9; SEQ ID NO:2) was amplified by PCR with PFU polymerase (Stratagene, Calif.) from human placental cDNA (Clontech, Calif.), cloned into pcDNA™3.1⁻ vector (Invitrogen, Calif.) and confirmed by DNA sequencing. A mouse B7-H5 cDNA (FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO:6) was identified from the NCBI and Celera databases based on homology to the same B7 family molecules. To isolate the mouse B7-H5 homologue, several sets of primers based on mouse and human EST sequences were used to amplify mouse B7-H5 cDNA (FIG. 10; SEQ ID NO:4) from spleen cDNA of a C57BL/6 (B6) mouse. Full-length mouse B7-H5 cDNA was similarly cloned into pcDNA™3.1⁻ vector and confirmed by DNA sequencing.

Molecular models of the N-terminal V-domains of human B7-H5 (FIG. 5) and mouse B7-H5 were built by homology modeling based on the X-ray structures of human CD80 and CD86 (Stamper et al, 2001, Nature 410:08-611; Schwartz et al., 2001, Nature 410:604-608) using MOE (Molecular Operating Environment, Chemical Computing Group, Quebec, Canada). Insertions and deletions in mouse and human B7-H5 relative to the structural template(s) were modeled employing a protein database segment matching procedure (Levitt, 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 226:07-533; Fechteler et al., 1995, J. Mol. Biol. 253:114-131) implemented in MOE. Side chain replacements were carried out using a rotamer library (Ponder and Pichards, 1987, J. Mol. Biol. 193:775-791) extracted from high-resolution protein data bank structures (Berman et al., 2000, Nucleic Acids Res. 28:235-242). Intramolecular contacts and stereochemistry of the models were optimized by limited energy minimization using protein force field parameters (Engh and Huber, 1991, Acta Crystallogr. A47:392-400). Residue mapping studies and computer graphical analysis were carried out with InsightII (MSI, Calif.). Both human and mouse B7-H5 polypeptides were predicted to contain an IgV-like domain, which is involved in the interaction of B7 molecules with their cognate receptors. The human and mouse B7-H5 polypeptides are also predicted to contain a single transmembrane domain, a cysteine predicted to be involved in dimerization, e.g., heterodimerization, and a tyrosine in the cytoplasmic domain predicted to be phosphorylated during signaling. Two structural cysteines, as indicated in FIG. 3, are highly likely to contribute to the formation of the IgV domain. Additional amino acids can form a non-typical immunoglobulin constant-like region as indicated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows an alignment of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) V-domain sequences of the B7 family (h: human, m: mouse), including B7-H5. IgSF V-set consensus residues were defined according to Williams and Barclay (1998, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 6:381-405) and Bork et al (1994, J. Mol. Biol. 242:309-320), and are shown on a black background. Consensus residue positions are labeled with invariant IgSF residues or conserved residue character (h: hydrophobic, p: polar). Residue positions shown on a gray background are signature residues of the B7 family outside IgSF consensus positions. Beta-strands of the V-domain are designated according to IgSF conventions (A′, B, C, C′, C″, D, F, G). Residue positions labeled with # are involved in dimerization of CD80/CD86 in their crystal structures and residues labeled with asterisks participate in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) binding.

On the basis of this alignment, in both human and mouse B7-H5, 14/16 IgSF V-set consensus residues and 12/13 B7 signature residues are conserved. This is strong evidence that these proteins have V-like B7 domains.

The most unique features in these domains are unusual insertions in the A′-B and C-D loops, including free cysteines. These loops are spatially adjacent in the C-terminal region of the V-domain, at its interface with subsequent regions. The cysteine residues would be available for inter-loop disulfide bonding or, alternatively, covalent interactions with adjacent domains. Given these insertions, the C-terminal region of the B7-H5 V-domain would likely not be capable of forming the interface with a subsequent C-type IgSF domain, as seen in the crystal structure of CD80.

Fusion protein constructs of human B7-H5 polypeptide (FIG. 3; SEQ ID NO:1) and mouse B7-H5 polypeptide (FIG. 4; SEQ ID NO:3) were prepared by cloning the extracellular domain of B7-H5 in frame with the hinge-CH2-CH3 domain of either human IgG1 or mouse IgG2a (Chapoval et al., 2002, Mol. Biotechnol. 21:259-264). To enhance the secretion of fusion protein, the native signal peptide of B7-H5 was replaced with the preprotrypsin signal peptide and FLAG sequence derived from pCMV-FLAG™ vector (Sigma, Mo.). To produce the B7-H5Ig fusion proteins, 293T cells were transfected with 10 μg of mouse or human B7-H5Ig constructs by the calcium phosphate method, and B7-H5Igs were purified from culture supernatant by protein G column, as described previously (Dong et al., 1999, Nature Med. 5:1365-1369). Stable CHO cell lines expressing human B7-H5 or mock-transfected lines were prepared by cotransfection of pcDNA™ vector containing human B7-H5 cDNA with pLXSHD, a plasmid encoding histidinol-resistant gene (Miller et al., 1993, Methods Enzymol. 217:581-599). Stable clones were selected with 20 mM histidinol (Sigma, Mo.). Clones expressing B7-H5 were screened for binding with human B7-H5 monoclonal antibody (mAb).

Monoclonal antibodies to human B7-H5 were generated by immunization of a BALB/c mouse by immunization methods described previously (Wilcox et al., 2002, J. Clin. Invest. 109:651-659). Two hybridomas, 5H9 and 1H11, which secrete mouse IgG1 against human B7-H5 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B) were generated. The monoclonal antibodies produced by the two hybridomas were purified by IgG affinity column chromatography. Specificity of the mAb was determined by negative staining of various transfectants expressing B7 family molecules including B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, B7-DC, B7-H2 and B7-H3. Control mouse IgG1 were purchased from Rockland (Gilbertville, Pa.).

The activity of human B7-H5 to stimulate proliferation of T cells was investigated. Flat bottom 96-well plates were coated with varying concentrations of anti-CD3 mAb (Dong et al, 1999, Nature Med. 5:1365-1369), washed extensively, and coated with 10 μg/ml B7-H5Ig or control mIg for 2 hours at 37° C. Nylon wool-purified human CD3+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors were cultured in the presence of the pre-coated anti-CD3 mAb at 3×10⁵ cells/well. Seventy-two hours later, the wells were pulsed with 1 μCi of ³H-thymidine (TdR) and the proliferation of T cells was determined by incorporation of TdR. The B7-H5Ig fusion protein stimulated T cell proliferation at concentrations as low as 0.6 μg/ml (FIG. 7). This demonstrates that the B7-H5 polypeptide can co-stimulate T cells. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A method of modulating T cell immunity in a subject, said method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a fusion protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said fusion protein comprises: a first domain that consists of an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a protein consisting of an extracellular region of a protein, wherein the nucleic acid sequence hybridizes over its full length, after a wash at 50° C. to 60° C. in a buffer containing 0.2× SSC and 0.1% SDS, to the complement of a nucleotide sequence consisting of nucleotide 88 to nucleotide 936 of SEQ ID NO:2; and at least one additional domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is unrelated to SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one additional domain is all or part of an immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said fusion protein comprises amino acid 40 to amino acid 190 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein said fusion protein comprises amino acid 35 to amino acid 190 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein said fusion protein comprises amino acid 30 to amino acid 190 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid sequence hybridizes over its full length, after a wash at 50° C. to 60° C. in a buffer containing 0.2× SSC and 0.1% SDS, to the complement of a nucleotide sequence consisting of nucleotide 88 to nucleotide 570 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is physiological saline.
 9. A method of modulating T cell immunity in a subject, said method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a fusion protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said fusion protein comprises: a first domain consisting of a polypeptide that consists of all or part of amino acid 30 to amino acid 311 of SEQ ID NO:1 and includes at least an V-like Ig domain consisting of amino acid 47 to amino acid 150 of SEQ ID NO:1; and at least one additional domain comprising an amino acid sequence that is unrelated to SEQ ID NO:1.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one additional domain is all or part of an immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said fusion protein comprises amino acid 40 to amino acid 311 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said fusion protein comprises amino acid 35 to amino acid 311 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein said fusion protein comprises amino acid 30 to amino acid 311 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is physiological saline. 